More wrongs from the U.N. Human Rights Council

The U.N. Human Rights Council, which came into being in 2006, was supposed to be an upgrade of the discredited Human Rights Commission it replaced. But the supposed “reforms” of the Human Rights Council were far less than met the eye.

Instead of the commission’s 53 members, the council has 47 members. That and reducing the number of seats held by Western democracies (thus diluting their influence) were the most significant changes.

The fundamental problem that made the Human Rights Commission such a disgrace remained: There’s still no standard for human rights to serve on the council. Allowing China, Cuba, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to serve as international arbiters of human rights makes a mockery of the concept.

That’s how Libya managed to gain a seat on the council. As late as February, Libya was a member in good standing. In fact, as Gadhafi was attacking his own people, the council was prepared to release a report praising his government for its stellar human rights record. U.N. Watch has some choice excerpts:

The delegation noted that all rights and freedoms were contained in a coherent, consolidated legal framework. The legal guarantees formed the basis for protection of the basic rights of the people. Further, abuses that might occur were dealt with by the judiciary, and the perpetrators were brought before justice.

Under intense pressure, the council booted Libya. But what country is poised to take its place next month? Syria! The latest news from that human rights paradise, via AFP:

Syria’s protest flashpoint town of Banias was completely cut off from the outside world last night and security forces raked the nearby village of Baida with gunfire. “Security forces and armed men are firing machine guns indiscriminately at the village,” a witness said. “The gunfire against Baida is intense, like the rain.”

The Bush administration refused to give the council legitimacy and boycotted it. President Barack Obama made the decision to join the Human Rights Council and try to reform it from within.

It’s worth a try, and that’s part of what elections are about. But the structure of the organization makes reform a futile effort, and the dismal results after two years suggest the wrongs of the Human Rights Council are beyond redemption.